119 



a council of the subordinate chiefs and warriors* 

 To this council he states his object, and explains 

 his views and intentions ; and if a general 

 assent be not given, he lays aside his project. 



These people believe in a supreme power, 

 whom they call the Great Spirit, To him they 

 attribute every good they enjoy, and consider it as 

 his gift. But they render homage to another 

 Spirit, subordinate to the Great Spirit^ who is the 

 author of all the evil and misfortune they suffer. 

 By appeasing his wrath, they hope to escape the 

 troubles with which he might be disposed to visit 

 them. They have also many other inferior dei- 

 ties, which they conceive have power to do them 

 good or evil. They believe, if they are faithful 

 to their nation and kind to their relatives, good 

 warriors and good hunters, that when they die, 

 they shall go to a most delightful country, which 

 abounds in game ; where there will be perpetual 

 day ; a bright sun and clear sky ; when they will 

 meet their old friends ; and where they will enjoy 

 every pleasure they were fond of here, without in- 

 terruption. But that those who are bad here, 

 especially those who are ungrateful to the aged, 

 when they die, will go to a place of punishment, 

 where they will suffer the severest privations, and 

 be denied every thing that was pleasant or desir- 

 able in this life. But the traders say, it is with 

 great difficulty they can be prevailed upon to con- 

 verse at all on these subjects. The French made 

 repeated attempts to introduce Missionaries 



